beaking question

[jlt666]

I was just reading the birdboard and glanced over at Martini (my 7 month old TAG) to see her awake and watching me. Couldn't resist going over and saying a final good night.

Stuck my hand in the cage for a final head scritch, but Martini instead seemed intent upon grabbing my fingers with her beak. She by no means is biting me, I mean she could seriously inflict damage if she wanted to, but instead just seems to be doing something kind of like a baby teething. Just gripping my fingers between her beak and then bobbing her head, like when she was feeding from a syringe, also rubbing her beak against my hand.

She has never, ever bit me, but I'm wondering if this is okay or maybe there will come a time when she really does take a chunk out of my finger and it will be my fault because I allowed her to teeth on my fingers.

Whaddya all think? Am I asking for trouble or is Martini smart enough to know not to bite too hard?

[DynamitePsycho]

I play a beak game with Ziggy where he'll do the same as Martini (he's 14 months now). When he gets really excited or frightened he'll chomp harder, but not to the point where there is damage. I'm pretty sure he knows it's a game as well, because he loves to do it. However, when he gets a little too rough (just like a dog) I use the word "Owie" as the signal to him that he's being too hard and I'll stop playing for a moment. Sometimes he'll nip my husband hard, but I think that's because my husband plays a bit rougher than I do and hasn't completely learned how to read a bird's actions (this is his first fid). Hope this helps!

[jlt666]

Thank you for your response. I see info out there about not responding when your bird bites you, I'm not sure I see the reasoning behind that. When Martini puts too much pressure on my finger, I just let her know, by saying something like, hey, that's too hard! or that's not nice. Your's is the first post I've seen that shows that you do the same, so thanks again for letting me know, its okay not to keep quiet when Martini gets too rough during our play time, I really appreciate it!!

[drheather]

Ours does it, and then she'll regurgitate. I really think its a sign of affection.

You're lucky. When I gave my grey a kiss goodnight before putting her in her cage the other night she bit my lip and drew blood. Little beotch. My bad, though- she was kinda tranced out and "sleeping with her eyes open" and I didn't prod her awake before I did it like I always do.

[jlt666]

Originally Posted by drheather

Ours does it, and then she'll regurgitate. I really think its a sign of affection.

You're lucky. When I gave my grey a kiss goodnight before putting her in her cage the other night she bit my lip and drew blood. Little beotch. My bad, though- she was kinda tranced out and "sleeping with her eyes open" and I didn't prod her awake before I did it like I always do.

I saw your other post, i cannot imagine how much that must of hurt! Martini hangs on my shoulder a lot and sometimes I think she's trying to preen my face! I have freckles and I dunno, she seems to gently kind of pick at them, I can imagine if she got my eyeball or latched onto my nose or lip, I would be in a world of hurt!

[lorilazerson]

drheather, I read your post today before I left to visit our new CAG at Omars. While there "he" was giving me kisses and all I thought about was your post about your lip getting bit. I didn't get bit, but I think I'm more cautious now.
lori

[DynamitePsycho]

Originally Posted by jlt666

Thank you for your response. I see info out there about not responding when your bird bites you, I'm not sure I see the reasoning behind that. When Martini puts too much pressure on my finger, I just let her know, by saying something like, hey, that's too hard! or that's not nice. Your's is the first post I've seen that shows that you do the same, so thanks again for letting me know, its okay not to keep quiet when Martini gets too rough during our play time, I really appreciate it!!

No problem, I hope that it does help you out. I know getting different perspectives on things is always helpful! Just as long as you create "boundaries" or expectations for Martini for game time, you'll be fine.

[drheather]

Originally Posted by lorilazerson

drheather, I read your post today before I left to visit our new CAG at Omars. While there "he" was giving me kisses and all I thought about was your post about your lip getting bit. I didn't get bit, but I think I'm more cautious now.
lori

Oh she certainly wasn't malicious about it. She was on her manzanita stand after her bedtime, and when she's up too late she seriously goes into this trance with her eyes open and is oblivious to the world and you have to very, very gently prod her awake before picking her up. I was just careless and didn't "respect the bird" and startled her when she wasn't ready. Luckily I didn't get bit as bad as some other people I've heard about- I've read that some bird owners end up in the ER for lip stitches!

She's not a face biter at all. She LOVES giving kisses and will give the kissing sound as she does it. If she wants to be mean she goes for the fingers because she KNOWS that those bites hurt for days!